Friends honor Chef Joe Cunningham

Chef Joe Cunningham, center, with fellow chefs Joseph Lenn, left, and Matt Gallaher at a party in 2015 at Public House to celebrate Lenn’s leaving Blackberry Farm to start his own restaurant. Lenn and Gallaher were among the organizers of Sunday’s soiree. (File photo from The Blue Streak)

The Knoxville restaurant and hospitality community came together this past Sunday for an over-the-top fundraising dinner to assist the family of Chef Joe Cunningham, according to Cynthia Moxley, writing in The Blue Streak.

“The popular 43-year-old executive chef at Northshore Brasserie died in July from complications after a car accident.

“His industry friends organized a five-course dinner with wine pairings. They sold 200 tickets at $250 a piece and put together a silent and live auction at The Mill & Mine in downtown Knoxville. The result: they raised more than $88,000 which will go to Cunningham’s wife, Laura Petit, and two children, Noah, 19, and Willa, 10.”

Moxley has pictures galore – both the food offerings and the friends and family gathered. Read about the event here.